Posted on Jul 23, 2017
SFC S2 Intelligence Ncoic
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So, I've received an email giving me assignment ''instructions'' that to report to Fort Hood this coming February, and I'm aware that SSGs and below do not usually receive pinpoint orders until arrival at replacement BN. Have any of you ever contacted a unit yourself in order to see if there is a billet, and have gotten assignment orders for that unit. My goal of becoming a Drill Sergeant did not happen because my branch manager said she doesn't assign OCONUS soldiers for Drill Sergeant duty. I have an itch to be an instructor of some kind and I found out that III Corps at Hood has an NCO Academy. Would be cool to see if I can get an assignment as an SGL. Any advice?
Edited 8 y ago
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SGM Erik Marquez
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It doesn't really work that way replacement and the G1 will put you where they believe your needed most by MOS and rank

That said if a brigade CSM where to contact G1 and plead a case with justification and an open slot you might get to that specific unit sometimes with that brigade CSM doesn't know is that a different unit is more critically short and even though A single unit slot might exist for the requesting CSM some other unit has four empty slot and you'll be going there because of that
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SFC S2 Intelligence Ncoic
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Bummer, but I'm more interested in contacting a unit now while I have six months before I report to replacement BN on Hood. I'm not trying to leave it up to the "S-1 Gods" when I show up there. Would you recommend I try to apply for SGL at Hood since I'm already on orders to go to the base?
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SGT Mary G.
SGT Mary G.
3 y
I was given some very good advice from a highly respected well liked career SM with a spotless reputation (none of which is easy to achieve, and all, rarely), in the nothing ventured nothing gained department. I didn't take it, and wished I had inquired further about specifics.
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SFC Incheon Airport Jppc Ncoic
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Unfortunately contacting an unit will not get you to the Brigade you want to be assigned too. More than likely you're already on someone's projected gains roster to fill a position of a Soldier that unit is losing.
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SFC S2 Intelligence Ncoic
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Thank you, SFC Sherard. That's what I'm thinking.
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SFC Incheon Airport Jppc Ncoic
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You're very welcome. Good luck to you, I enjoyed my time at Ft Hood, wishing you a great experience there as well.
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SFC S2 Intelligence Ncoic
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SFC (Join to see) - I'm sure we will. Just gonna be hot, haha. I'm sure there is a deployment in my near future. lol
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SGT Mary G.
SGT Mary G.
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SFC (Join to see) - Humid too!
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CSM Richard StCyr
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I did at Fort Lewis as a SSG, my orders had me reporting to a heavy material supply unit's construction section. I had already served in one in Germany and was familiar with the mission (thought someone else could benefit from the exposure to a logistics unit).
I went to the 864th before signing in; asked for an appointment with the CSM, left him my I love me book for a read ahead and when I met him asked if he thought I could contribute to his unit. He raked me over the coals for about an hour, like going to a fricken board and before I left his office he was on the phone with the post reception station assignment section and had me diverted to B co. 864th to serve as a Squad Leader.
So in my opinion it's your career, if you have an assignment that you need for career progression and know where the slots are, go for it. The worst that can happen is that you get turned down and have to go where they send you.
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SFC S2 Intelligence Ncoic
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Thank you, Sir. I called the III Corps NCO Academy today and they were very accommodating. I spoke with the Chief of training and he recommended I contact a ''certain MSG'' on the HRC website for trying to get assigned a slot as an SGL at their Academy. Sent an email to the NCOPD people, so hope that was the right email to contact. I'm getting very frustrated.
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Should I contact a unit myself in order to get assigned to it?
SSG Sniper Team Leader
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Literally walked into the batallion I wanted to go to and asked if they needed snipers. Boom hired on the spot. Showing initiative doesn't hurt.
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SFC S2 Intelligence Ncoic
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I'm trying to do it before I even show up. I feel like I'm not gonna have the time once I arrive at Hood.
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SSG(P) Drill Sergeant
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I actually recently did this when I came back to hood. It's a 4187 requesting assignment and a letter of acceptance from csm. However once put on pin point you now have to get approval from gaining csm and losing csm all the way up to brigade. If they all sign it it then goes to 3 corps to review and sign. It took mine about a month to finally get signed at 3 corps
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SFC S2 Intelligence Ncoic
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So, I've called the III Corps NCO Academy on Hood and they were very cool, but said I had to go thru HRC in order to try to get a slot as an SGL. I sent NCOPD an email about that, but haven't heard back yet. Did you simply do everything over the phone before arriving at Hood?
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SFC S2 Intelligence Ncoic
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8 y
And for a second I thought your name was Alec Baldwin. lol
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SSG(P) Drill Sergeant
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I had small amounts of cummunication with them via email. But nothing happened until I started walking the 4187 around. lol I get that a lot
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SFC Recruiter
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To my understanding Pvt-SSG normally don't receive pin point orders. You get order to replacement BN.
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SFC S2 Intelligence Ncoic
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Yes, I'm aware of that. Thank you. Trying to get pinpoint orders of choice before I show up to replacement BN.
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CSM Battalion Command Sergeant Major
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Unless things have changed you won't get pinpoint orders unless you are a SFC or above. Don't worry because NCO academies are always looking for instructors. Within a year or less your BN CSM will be asking for volunteers
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SFC S2 Intelligence Ncoic
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I hope so. I'm gonna contact their S-1 SNCO as well. Thanks, CSM!!
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CPT Aaron Kletzing
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It can't hurt to try. But usually the Replacement Battalion/Co assigns you based on needs, if you don't otherwise have pinpoint orders
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SFC S2 Intelligence Ncoic
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Yes, I'm aware of that. Thanks for your response.
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SSG Squad Leader
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Have you dropped a DS packet to DS branch they can delete your orders and give you DS orders sometimes. I would give them a call and see what they say.
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SFC S2 Intelligence Ncoic
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Neither would help. I contacted branch and was told to contact Drill SGT branch. Drill SGT Branch turned right back around and told me to contact my branch manager again. I did, and she didn't help. Kept telling me that since my DEROS is so far out that I'm not being considered for Drill SGT duty. I contacted Drill SGT Branch again about 3 months ago, and was told that as soon as my branch releases me, that they would contact me letting me know what documents were needed to be sent to the Drill Academy, etc. They didn't, two days ago I was put on orders for Fort Hood. Very unfair in my opinion. I'm a 37 year old SSG and it's either now or never.
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2LT Brian L.
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I always try to call to find out Battalion at least if not company or smaller.... the sponsorship program tends to be a joke but maybe you can find someone on the inside if you know who you are going to to help you out. Call Brigade S1 and start asking them.
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